DU QUOIN, IL.,- Today, in front of the main entrance to the DuQuoin State Fair (located on U.S. Route 51, 20 minutes north of Carbondale), Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn made free Project ChildSafe gunlocks available to the public to raise awareness about safe and responsible firearm ownership and storage.

Quinn’s office gave out 10,000 gunlocks at the 2004 Illinois State Fair.

Quinn was joined by the Mayor of DuQuoin John Rednour, the Chief of Police Jim Booker, as well as the Illinois State Police and Perry County Sheriff’s Department.

Quinn partnered with Project ChildSafe, aiming to cut down on firearm-related accidents, to help better inform Illinoisans about gun safety and support the distribution of free gunlocks to firearm owners across the state.

“I encourage all gun owners to take the necessary precautions to keep their loved ones out of harm’s way,” said Quinn. “Each and every individual can exercise their power to make their community a safer place by getting involved in the Project ChildSafe program.”

Project ChildSafe is a not-for-profit group whose goal is to promote firearm safety and storage practices among all firearm owners through the distribution of fundamental education information and free gunlocks. No state tax dollars were used to produce the gunlocks.

Quinn’s staff was handing out gunlocks throughout the fair at the display in the Department of Natural Resources’ tent.

Quinn’s display also offered an expansive display of information regarding his office programs and initiatives including Clean water Illinois, Operation Home Front, Illinois Main Street, and The Governor’s Rural Affairs Council (GRAC).